Calm and composed, Henry Alden made his comments. He was an amiable, kindly-disposed lad, but caring nothing for study. Still he managed to get along, and examination-days had no terrors for him. His easy, nonchalant air surprised me, and still more the light opinion he had formed of the learning of some of the visitors.
Around the sides of the room sat the ladies from Terryville; but to me there was no face that looked kinder than Miss Grimshaw’s, no beauty that began to equal my little sister Jennie’s.
At eleven o’clock the class that had finished arithmetic were called. I felt the blood rushing over me at fever heat, my fingers tingling, and my cheeks burning. Mr. Farnham questioned us, giving examples to each. The first sum he gave me was in interest, the second in the cube root. I did not tremble from fear that I could not do the examples, as I knew perfectly well there was not a sum in the book I could not do; but I wanted to do it easily, handsomely, and in order. I gave a quick glance to Jennie, and the calm expression of the sweet face swept away all trepidation. I crossed the platform, and took up the crayon. Never was I more collected; I forgot there were others in the room; I only saw Jennie, and I knew by the expression of her quiet face that she expected me to do well. She would be disappointed if I failed. I would not fail. There was no reason why I should.
The example was on the board, and I stood with pointer in hand ready for explanation. Contrary to my expectation, my voice did not tremble; and when I finished, I was prouder than I have ever been since.
Then followed algebra, as far as we had gone.
“It is well done,” said Mr. Wentworth with a pleasant smile. “Such examples make boys think; and when once they begin to think, then they begin to learn in reality. Perhaps you sometimes wonder why such and such examples were put into the algebra; you can see no use in them, except to puzzle you. I will tell you. It is to make you deep, earnest thinkers. Boys that can think about their sums, solve their problems, and explain them readily, can also think about something else. That is why you study algebra, and that is why you are drilled so thoroughly in Latin and Greek. It is to make you think patiently, and so learn to overcome difficulties. Learn to think then, and never give up because you do not understand what practical use it is to be to you.”
And as this was the last lesson on the programme, he took occasion to tell us the grand incentive to all this labor was because God had given us minds of untold worth; that these minds were to live for ever, and the more we acquired, so much the more should we be able to understand the works of the Creator, so much better should we be able to discharge the duties incumbent upon us, so much better able to work for Him who has given us these minds, who has so liberally endowed us with all these wonderful attributes of the soul. And he urged us all to remember our Creator in the days of our youth, to give our hearts to him when young, that we might be led and guarded by him along life’s pathway.
This made me think of Mr. Kirby. “Do good men all talk alike?” asked Jennie, as soon as the bell struck for recess.
After dinner, which we took with Mr. and Mrs. Harlan, we were again marched into the school-room, and examined closely in Latin. As beginners we came first, and I was surprised that we received so much praise, expecting as a matter of course that this would only be awarded the advanced classes; but Mr. Wentworth said,
“The foundation is the chief thing. Once well grounded in the rudiments, and the rest is sure. Here is where the work is to be done.”